Season: 22 Episode: 321
“Love” is one of the most used—and most argued-about—words in our culture. With over 2.1 billion hashtags on Instagram and 76 million posts declaring “love is love,” it’s clear that everyone has a definition. But does God?
Christians are often told we’re “not loving enough” when we speak about God’s design for marriage, the reality of biological sex, or the sanctity of life. We’re reminded to “speak the truth in love”—sometimes as a correction, sometimes as a weapon. But before we argue about how to love, we have to ask a more important question: What is love, according to God?
In today’s episode, we’ll unpack what Scripture tells us to love, what God explicitly tells us not to love, and how to discern whether love is truly present—or merely being used as a slogan.
Free Resource Mentioned
- The Greatest Is Love: Inductive Bible Study (Free Lesson)
Learn how Scripture defines love by categorizing what love is and what love is not from 1 Corinthians 13.
Also Mentioned
- Worldview in 3 Minutes Newsletter
A free monthly newsletter examining cultural issues through a biblical worldview.
👉 Subscribe at ShandaFulbright.com
Between the Lines
Shanda reflects on Valentine’s Day, marriage rhythms, and why scheduled connection matters more than cultural expectations. Celebrating 25 years of marriage, she shares why intentional time together often matters more than gifts or traditions—and how consistency in relationships outweighs one designated day.
What We Cover in This Episode
What Does God Tell Us to Love?
- God first (Matthew 22:37)
- People (Matthew 22:39)
- Our enemies (Matthew 5:44)
- Truth (1 Corinthians 13:6)
- God’s Word and His commands (John 14:15)
Biblical love flows from prioritizing God above all else. Loving others does not mean affirming sin—it means seeking what is truly good, even when it’s hard.
What Does God Tell Us Not to Love?
- The world system (kosmos) – the moral system opposed to God (1 John 2:15)
- Sin and evil (Romans 12:9)
- Money – loving it, trusting in it, or finding identity in it (1 Timothy 6:10)
- Darkness – rebellion against God’s truth (John 3:19)
God never tells us not to love people—but He does warn us not to love what destroys them.
Cultural Slogans and “Toxic Empathy”
- How phrases like “love is love” function as thought-terminating clichés
- Why emotional manipulation often disguises itself as compassion
- The difference between empathy and biblical love
- Why affirming sin is not loving
📌 Article referenced:
Hillary Clinton Speaks Out Against Toxic Empathy But Misses the Point – Christian Post
https://www.christianpost.com/voices/hillary-clinton-speaks-out-on-toxic-empathy-but-misses-point.html
How Do You Know If Someone Truly Loves You?
Using 1 Corinthians 13, we examine love as Scripture defines it—not romance, not feelings, but agape love.
Love Is:
- Patient – slow to anger, long-suffering
- Kind – active goodness and care
- Rejoices in the truth – delights when truth wins
- Never fails – enduring, not conditional
Love Is Not:
- Envious – resentful of others’ good
- Boastful or arrogant – self-exalting
- Rude – disregards dignity
- Selfish – insists on its own way
- Irritable – easily provoked
- Resentful – keeps a record of wrongs
Biblical love gives of itself. It forgives. It speaks truth. And it always reflects God’s character.
Love Begins with God
God defines love because God is love. His love is not emotional, conditional, or fleeting—it is sacrificial and steadfast. Christ’s death on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of love, and our ability to love others flows directly from understanding His love for us.
Final Encouragement
The culture does not have a monopoly on love—God does. If you want clarity on what love truly is, start with Scripture.
👉 Get your free lesson from The Greatest Is Love study at
ShandaFulbright.com/the-greatest-is-love
📩 Questions? Email hello@shandafulbright.com
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Check out the other podcasts by Shanda Fulbright here.
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